The Creating Secure Communities initiative aims to encourage pupils at Cleves in Weybridge to stay safe while also understanding more about a caring community.

Among the guests at Thursday’s launch were the Dowler family and Diana Lamplugh, founder of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, to which the recently set up Milly’s Fund is affiliated.

Cleves has a long-established programme of citizenship and personal development, including the creation of a code of conduct encouraging a high standard of behaviour in many areas of school life.

There is also a mentor scheme, in which older pupils are available for their younger counterparts whenever they need to talk.

The school has devised a child’s booklet on personal safety and there are also plans for information packs on that subject for infant, junior and secondary pupils in other schools.

Cleves headteacher Sue Croft was among those who attended former pupil Amanda Dowler’s memorial service at Guildford Cathedral, and pupils recently held a mufti day to raise money for Milly’s Fund.

“The children have become very involved in this initiative and we have decided to include our whole citizenship and personal safety programme under the heading of ‘Creating Secure Communities’,” said Mrs Croft.

“One of the main aims is to teach the children to function effectively in a caring community and the personal safety programme will bring positive benefits out of a negative experience.”

Elmbridge youth affairs officer PC Brian Kingston, who was at the launch, said a lot of work was being done in the borough’s schools to raise awareness of personal safety issues.

“The scheme is going to enable many more schools to deliver personal safety talks,” he said. “There was a very good turnout at the launch. As an exchange of information it went very well.”

If you would like to help Milly’s Fund, write to the charity at PO Box 470, Walton KT12 3XZ.

A WOODLAND path used as a shortcut to Weybridge train station has been made safer, thanks to the intervention of Sally Dowler, mother of murdered schoolgirl Amanda.

The overgrown walkway is used as a shortcut by pupils and students at Heathside School and Brooklands College.

Staff at the school and college repeatedly send out warnings to children not to use the unlit and overgrown path, but it is still being used.

“I worked at the college and the school and I know the woods are used as a short cut,” said Sally Dowler.

It was a personal request from her that led to the forest being cleared.

Mrs Dowler said that she and her husband passed the spot returning from Yateley Heath Woods, where Milly’s body was found.

“When we were taken there it wasn’t very far from the road.

“I wanted to know how it could have been there for six months without being discovered.

“We drove past this spot on the way back and I thought that these woods needed to be cleared,” she said.

Mrs Dowler then wrote to the chief executive of Elmbridge council, Mike Lockwood, and asked him to do something about the overgrown area.

Mr Lockwood acted swiftly and sent in teams to clear the wood of excess vegetation.

Now the pathway is much more visible and, as a result, safer for young people to use.

“I suppose it should be happening all over Elmbridge,” she said.

“Since the woods have been cleared, it looks nicer as it’s more open and people can’t lurk around. I’m really delighted they are doing this.

“Milly’s Fund really want to work in partnership with Elmbridge. We’re talking about CCTV, about help points and lighting.

“So many people have done a lot for us. That’s a nice feeling and this is something I’m able to do for them.”